Council to take up pay increase for state's mental health workers

Gov. Chris Sununu continues to oppose a request from the State Employees Association and Health and Human Services Commissioner Lori Shibinette to make permanent the temporary 20 percent pay increase given to 231 mental health workers during the pandemic.

In arguing for a pay increase, Shibinette said without it “New Hampshire Hospital will be unable to adequately recruit and retain staff,” according to an October fact-finder’s report. Nearly 70 percent of part-time mental health worker positions are vacant, according to the report, which is on Wednesday’s Executive Council agenda.

In including it on the agenda, Sununu has asked councilors to review the report and offer input on whether the fact-finder’s support for a permanent wage increase be “accepted or rejected.”

Sununu’s office could not be immediately reached Tuesday. In his request to the council, Sununu said he rejected the request because “agreeing to these provisions could cause potential long-term unintended consequences that may reach far beyond this specific sub-unit (of mental health workers).”

Read more: https://newhampshirebulletin.com/briefs/council-to-take-up-pay-increase-for-states-mental-health-workers/